Development parameters, yield and agro-meteorological indices of wheat as affected by different dates of sowing, compaction levels and irrigation schedules

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at N. E. Borloug Crop Research Center of the G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar during two rabi seasons of 2014-15 and 2015-16 in sandy loam soil with wheat cv. UP-2565 under three compaction levels (C) viz. no compaction (C1), two passes of 500 kg RCC (reinforced cement concrete) roller (C2) and four passes of roller (C3); three irrigation schedules (I) viz. irrigation at 30% depletion from available soil moisture (ASM)- I1, irrigation at 40% depletion from ASM- I2 and irrigation at 50% depletion from ASM- I3 at three dates of sowing (D) viz. 5 November (D1), 20 November (D2) and 5 December (D3) with three replications. Maximum days to seedling emergence was recorded with D3 (8.11) and C3 (7.69) during 2015-16 while maximum days to anthesis and physiological maturity was recorded with D1 (91.49 and 135.39, respectively), C3 (90.12 and 131.85) and I1 (87.96 and 129.37, respectively) during 2014-15. Accumulated GDD at maturity (oC days) was recorded higher in D1 (1500.31), C3 (1514.83) and I2 (1472.16) during 2014-15. Accumulated PTU at maturity (oC days-hour) was also recorded higher with D1 (8942.46), C2 (9009.28) and I2 (8646.85) during 2014-15. Highest value of HUE was recorded with D3 (3.63), C2 (3.32) and I2 (3.27) during 2015-16. Grain yield (q ha-1) was found higher during 2014-15 with D3 (48.30), C2 (47.07) and I1 (45.88)